In The Dungeons

Celebrating Victory

Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.

The bathroom door squeaked on its hinges as Hermione pushed it open. Severus looked up at the sound and his mouth went dry at the sight of her in his robe. Oversized as it was, it still appeared to cling and he would have known she wore nothing beneath it, even if he hadn't seen the clothing the elf had taken away. He realised he was staring and turned his attention to the heavily laden tea tray on the table.

"Please sit yourself down, Miss Granger," he said, vaguely gesturing in the direction of the leather sofa.

She took a seat at the end nearest to her.

"I took the liberty of ordering some tea. Would you like some?"

"I'll take a cup, thank you. You really shouldn't have put the house-elves to this much trouble for me," she said awkwardly.

"I didn't. I merely asked for a pot of tea. The rest came entirely on their own initiative," he said, as he began to pour.

"It looks like one of the Headmaster's specials," said Hermione with a smile.

"That was my first thought," he said, handing her the cup and beginning to pour his own. "I feared you might scold me if I rejected it outright. I know of your sentimentality for the creatures. If you don't want to give offence you'll have to consume more than just a cup of tea."

He took a slice of lemon from the tray and sat down, risking a glance at Hermione, as he did so.

"It's a little late in the day for eating cakes," she protested.

"Do you have an eating disorder, Miss Granger?"

"What? No, of course not! I know I'm bit thinner than I used to be, but I'm busier now. That's a really preposterous thing to say!"

"You ate very little at the dinner tonight. I could feel your frailness when I held you earlier. If I am not mistaken, you are smaller now then when you were a fourth year. I know that young Muggle women under stress are prone to these problems; therefore it was a logical question to ask. It was not my intention to give offence... if you can believe that of me."

"I just work long hours. I don't eat at work because the smells put me off and I'm a bit disorganised when it comes to buying groceries and cooking in the evenings. I don't seem to get hungry like I used to. Do I really look that bad?"

"You don't look as well as I would like. Your face hasn't suffered, but I was quite shocked when I felt how little you weigh. Your robes disguise your lack of bulk. I am concerned that you are neglecting yourself. There's no shame in it, Miss Granger, I've fallen into the trap myself. However, the war is over and you can't continue in this manner. It's not good for you."

"Do you think you could bring yourself to call me Hermione? You managed it when we were outside. It would be much easier to take this lecture from a friend than from my former schoolmaster."

"I mean to be a friend to you. I'm making an effort to do for you what Minerva would have done, were she still with us."

"I don't think Professor McGonagall would have tried what you did when we were outside. Do you?"

"I will admit, Hermione, that my motivations are rather more complex than I would like. However, I promise I will not force my attentions on you," he said firmly. "There are practical steps I can take to assist you, both personally and professionally. I am capable of ignoring the charms of the dozens of adolescent witches I live and work with. You need have no fear of me."

He picked up his own tea-cup and took a mouthful of the warm liquid.

"I'm not afraid of you, sir." She took a deep breath and stepped of the edge. "In fact I would rather continue what we started in the graveyard than discuss my career prospects right now."

Severus spat his mouthful of tea back into the cup and wiped his chin with the back of his hand.

"You kissed me first... and it took you a long time to stop and let go when I kissed you back. It's logical to infer that you wanted to do it. Have you changed your mind now?" she finished hurriedly.

He shifted uncomfortably before replying.

"Miss... Hermione, I think my lack of control earlier has demonstrated that I find you attractive. Out of that entire parade of spoiled brats tonight you were the only one worthy of a moment's attention. I watched you throughout the meal and then spent a whole hour debating whether or not I should follow you onto the gallery. Now, be that as it may, I did not invite you here to seduce you or take advantage of you at a vulnerable time. You wanted to visit the graves of your friends and you have fully earned the right to have your wishes taken into consideration. Frankly I am at something of a loss. I can hardly sit here and discuss your career options as though nothing happened out there, but I cannot bring myself to take advantage of you. You're tired, you've been drinking, you're lonely and I imagine you're frustrated too. It would be unpardonable for me to pursue you now!"

"I drank apple juice all evening. I've no capacity for alcohol. I might be rather low at the moment, but I'm not incapable of making a choice. You aren't pursuing me, Severus, I'm sitting right here waiting for you. Kissing you and holding you out there is the first thing that's given me any pleasure since Godric's Hollow. Can't we just comfort each other tonight and think about all the other problems in the morning?"

"Hermione, I pulled away when I did because I was gripped by the desire to throw you on the ground and tumble you in the mud. I'm not a boy. Foreplay is not an end in itself as far as I'm concerned. Are you sure you know what you're getting into?"

"I'm not a virgin," she said quietly. "It wasn't easy, but Ron and I did manage to get some time on our own. I know we were breaking the rules, but we were eighteen by then and we knew that we might die soon. I haven't had any other experience though. I want to let you... You won't hurt me will you?"

"Let me hold you. We can't have this conversation from opposite ends of the sofa. We need to touch."

He set down his cup on the table and held out his hand. Hermione slid across the sofa towards him, taking care that her gown did not gape open. She nestled against him, and hid her face in his shoulder. He embraced her tenderly.

"I'll never hurt you if I can help it," he said. "I promise."

He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and they maintained their position momentarily, content with the progress they had made.

It was Hermione who took the initiative for the next step. She raised her head and gently pecked kisses on the skin where it emerged from his collar. When she reached his ear she whispered,

"Are you going to join in?"

He tightened his grasp on her and pulled her higher up his torso so he had access to her mouth. He kissed her passionately and she pressed herself against him. He used his hands to encourage her to straddle him as the kiss progressed. With one hand she began to unbutton the ornate buttons that ran down the front of his dress robe. He slid a hand inside the dressing gown and cupped her small breast in his palm. She broke the kiss and drew back, panting.

"Have I gone too fast?" he asked, concerned, but not taking his hand away.

"I've got a scar," she blurted. "It's really ugly."

"The one from the injury Bellatrix gave you? I saw the wound when you received it. It was bound to scar badly. Does it bother you?"

"I can't see it really, but you'll have me undressed in seconds and I thought I should warn you... I didn't want it to put you off..."

"I have a lot of scars of my own, Hermione. You couldn't put your hand on my chest without touching one. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No of course not... it's .... Never mind."

"Hermione, if we are to go further I need to make sure you are comfortable. I think you might feel more secure if you got into my bed now. I'll give you a moment to get settled and then I'll join you. I'll allow you to control the brightness of the light and how much of our... our activity takes place beneath the sheets. Would that arrangement suit you?"

She nodded in obvious relief. Severus shifted his hand and teased her nipple with his thumb, keeping his eyes locked on hers as he did so. She quivered and he smiled at her. It was the first genuine smile she'd ever seen from him. Leaning forward she pecked him on the lips and slid off his lap. He watched as she walked over to the bedroom door. He leant back on the sofa and breathed in and out deeply as he slowly counted to a hundred. When he was finished, he walked over to the door and knocked.

He heard her call, "Come in," and he opened the door to find her sitting in his bed. He had expected her to cover herself with the sheet, but to his amazement, she had only pulled them to her waist and her top half was bare, concealed only by the odd tendril of hair straying over her shoulder.

She blushed under his gaze and he moved towards her as though in a trance. He settled himself on the bed beside her.

"I think you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in all my life," he confessed, running a hand down her bare arm.

"You don't have to say that," she said quietly. "I'm under no illusions."

"Neither do you know how beautiful I find you. I couldn't help noticing you last year. I'd see you laughing at the meal table, I'd watch you poring over books in the Library, I'd see your face when you knew your potion was perfect and I couldn't help but desire you. I never dared dream I'd see you like this. I am in awe."

"I never knew."

"How could I have said? It hardly reflects well on me, even now. A schoolmaster is not supposed to have that kind of awareness of his female students."

"I was eighteen and I'm not far off twenty now. I'm not your student any more, I'm a full grown witch."

"So I see," he said, smiling as he trailed his hand back up her arm and then walked his fingers over her small breasts. Bending forward he kissed each breast in turn before standing up to remove his robe. His Order of Merlin medal clinked as the robe hit the floor. Sitting down again he removed his shoes and socks, leaving him clad only in a long shirt type garment that reached past his knees. She opened her arms to him and they resumed their kissing.

At first he was careful to support her seated position but, as the kissing intensified, he realised he had pushed her down onto the bed without being aware of it. He straddled her, being careful not to pin her down too securely or make her bear too much of his weight. The kissing continued, mouths, faces and necks. She ran her hand under the hem of his shirt and up the outer side of his thigh. He pulled back for air.

"I think the shirt needs to come off," said Hermione, her mouth swollen with kisses and her hand rubbing the hairs at the top of his leg.

"As you command," he said lightly. He began to undo the neckpieces, which held it closed at the top. Hermione meanwhile insinuated her other hand under his hem on the other side to touch that thigh also. His arousal was evident, even with the shirt in place, but she was a little shy about Severus seeing her interest in that area and so kept her eyes on his face.

When the shirt was undone he rolled off the bed and stood facing away from her as he pulled it over his head. She saw the long line of his back marked with faded scars and the rounded shape of his buttocks before he slid quickly under the covers to lie beside her.

The feel of his skin against hers was incredible. She laid her hand on his chest. There were scars there, many of them still fairly new looking, which must have come from the skirmishes of the recent war. His skin was very pale otherwise and he was much hairier than she had expected. Not that she had given the matter much consideration before. He seemed bigger too without clothing although he seemed bigger anyway. Eight years ago she would have called him skinny, but he was broader and heavier than Ron, despite being a good three inches shorter.

"Do you want this, Hermione?" he asked hesitantly. "I'm not a nineteen year old boy."

"I want it. I want you." She lowered her face to his chest and began to pepper it with wet little kisses. He wrapped his arms around her and hefted her so she was on top of him. She squeaked and he chuckled briefly, caressing her prominent shoulder blades.

"If you weren't so flimsy I wouldn't be able to do that so easily," he said. "I think it's your turn to direct events for a moment. I know how bossy you can be."

"You can talk!" she spluttered, raising herself up to straddle his waist. She could feel his hardness against her buttock. "Still I'm glad to see you have some idea of how to share. Now what shall I do with you? Decisions...decisions..."

She looked down at him, making him wait and wonder. He lay with his long black hair fanned on the white pillow behind him, his lips parted. He returned her gaze, his eyes flickering in response to every tiny movement she made. Making her mind up, she shuffled forwards and kissed him hard, leaning down into it. He allowed her to control the kiss and she pinned him to the pillow by his hair. He rested his hand on her hip and she ground her moist centre against him. Then he brought his other hand into play. She jumped and broke the kiss as he stroked her labia.

"Am I permitted to continue?" he asked, raising his brow slightly.

"Yes," she replied, planting her hands on his chest and kneeling up slightly so he could have easier access. "In fact I demand that you do."

"I shall pleasure you and then I shall take you as I wish. Do you consent?"

"How do you wish?"

"I want you on your back and spread for me... and I want you to embrace me! Is that acceptable?"

"Yes... I was worried you wanted something... unusual."

"Not on this occasion... My tastes can run to the exotic, but that's how I want you tonight, just simple consent and simple pleasure. Shall I continue?"

"I insist that you do."

He traced her swollen sensitive flesh, spreading around the wetness leaking from her. He circled her clit, just not quite giving her what she wanted until she began to move against his fingers. Carefully he ran his middle finger into her opening and placed the heel of his hand against her clit, beginning to grind it slowly in a circular motion. He kept his eyes trained on her face as he did so. As she increased the speed of her movements, he matched her, looking for clues on her ever expressive face. He added another finger and then another. Her movements sped up and her breathing grew harsher until finally she cried out and he felt the quivering of her muscles around his fingers. He withdrew his hand and held her as she calmed.

"You're very good with your hands," she said, when she had recovered.

"Wait until you experience what I can do with my tongue," he purred. So saying, he smeared some of her moisture from his fingers onto her nipple and rolled her over so he could lick it off. Her breasts almost disappeared when she lay on her back, but her nipples stood proud.

She lifted his hair away to get a clearer view. How odd that this should be so erotic! It wouldn't have occurred to her that it could be so. There was something so overwhelming about intimacy with this man. He raised his head to meet her gaze. She saw the question in his eyes.

"It's your turn," she said.

"May I throw off the covers," he asked. "I'm getting very warm. I promise not to look at your back until you're comfortable with being naked for me."

"Throw them off. We do seem to have created some heat. Can we dim the light? Not pitch black just a candle."

"Easily," he said, accomplishing it with a wave of his hand. "Are you ready for me?"

"More than," she said, reaching for him.